(A) (1) In addition to any criminal penalties that may be imposed pursuant to this chapter, any person, occupant, operator, owner or purchaser who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the following administrative penalties in accordance with the criteria of § 1478.06(A) and (B) of this chapter:
(a) For a first offense, an administrative fine of up to $100;
(b) For a second offense, an administrative fine of up to $500; and
(c) For a third offense, an administrative fine of up to $1,000.
(2) Such fines shall be paid within 30 days of issuance.
(B) If a person, occupant, operator, owner or purchaser fails, neglects or refuses to pay an administrative penalty within the time ordered pursuant to this chapter, then the Building Commissioner shall so notify the Director of Finance. The Director of Finance shall certify the administrative penalty to the county’s Fiscal Officer. In addition to the administrative penalty, an interest rate equal to the current rate of interest charged by the city on special assessments shall be imposed by the city for the life of the administrative penalty, added to the administrative penalty and collected as provided in this section. The Director of Finance shall then certify the amount of administrative penalty, including interest, to the county’s Fiscal Officer. The county’s Fiscal Officer shall enter the amount on the tax duplicate of the county as a special assessment against the person’s real estate at issue.
(C) Money collected under divisions (A) and (B) above shall be used exclusively for the improvement of housing, infrastructure and administration within the city.
(D) In addition to any administrative penalties that may be imposed pursuant to division (A) above, any person, occupant, operator, owner or purchaser who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree and shall be fined not more than $500 and/or imprisoned not more than 60 days.
(E) A conviction or convictions obtained prior to the effective date of this chapter shall constitute a conviction or convictions for purposes of enforcement of the minimum mandatory penalties required by this section. Each separate count of which a person has been convicted shall constitute a separate violation of a section of the ICC International Property Maintenance Code, the city’s Development Code, the Ohio Residential Code or the Ohio Building Code.
(F) A separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
(G) The provisions of this chapter are specifically intended to impose strict liability.
(Prior Code, § 1495.99) (Ord. 65-2009, passed 6-8-2009)